Catching up

I really, really liked the Education Law class I took.  I HATE writing papers.  The discussions and reading was usually fairly interesting but writing about it is the worst.  I have a 18-20 page paper due at the beginning of next week and though I understand what I'm supposed to do, I can't get past the first paragraph.  UGH!!  Any ghostwriters available?  (I totally stopped the blog here and picked it up tonight.  Just finished above paper and will mail it out in the AM!!)

Officer BF and I have gotten to see the nieces and nephews twice in the last week which was wonderful.  They really are 4 of the nicest kids I know, and I know quite a few.  We got to have them for Veteran's Day which made my vet extra happy.  We hung out at the house, played Wii games, had a great lunch at a Chinese buffet (everyone can find something they like!) and ended the day with burgers from a great place in town.  According to Officer BF, it's mandatory to have burgers on Memorial and Veteran's days to celebrate being American.  I can't argue with that logic, he's served in the Army and I haven't.

This past weekend was paper writing and rehearsals.  I also had an eye doctor appt so I'll have some new specs in the next week or so.  Pic will follow, promise.

I am continuing to be back on track with the workouts and weight control.  I won't call it loss at this point but I'm definitely tighter than I was a month ago.  I'm trying to focus on different goals, not just a number on the scale.

I tried a new chicken marinade (new recipe that was healthy!!) Friday night which turned out really yummy.  It's sort of asian in flavor, I had to combine a couple of things I'd found online and adapt to what I already had in the house.  I used light soy sauce, lime juice, vinegar, thai chili sauce and some oil.  It was just spicy enough to keep me interested without burning my mouth.  I made up some wasabi soy sauce to go along with that did!  I made this with brown rice and broccoli for a yummy healthy meal.

Saturday night was dinner out with my girls Linda and Heather.  We went up to Oliver's in Katonah for an excellent dinner.  It's sort of an upscale casual type place with the most amazing looking burgers and sandwiches.  I had a chicken burger with mushrooms and brie...awesome.  We split an apple crumble for dessert that was almost as good as mine, but not quite :)  We had great talks about school, guys, life, diets, all the usual girl stuff.  I am so lucky!

I am going back to work on chairing the Junior All-County chorus here in my county.  I don't know why I volunteer for this stuff...it's insane.  The selection meeting was seriously stressful but I haven't received any kooky e-mails yet so hopefully that trend will continue.

I'm happy to have more of my life back...just in time for the holiday performance season...

Law Class Kicks My Butt

I know I haven't written in forever...but the graduate class I've been taking is seriously HARD!!!  Educational Law is very interesting and I like it but it is more work than I have done in a long time.  The reading, the research....it's insane.  Then, to really throw me for a loop, the teacher suggested that I go to law school.  Yikes!  (P.S.  I want a cake like this one...or to be able to make one for myself some day!)

So, the weight loss has halted so I'm going back to the gym big time!  I've been doing strength training a couple days a week and trying to up the running.  I did 4 and half miles on Sunday and felt pretty good afterwords.

I'm in the middle of another good book, The White Queen by Phillippa Gregory.  I love her writing and the way she takes history and gives it a little twist. 

Officer BF has been away a lot lately and I'm trying to get myself ready for when he's gone for most of December.  We set up Skype accounts this week and I'm hoping that this will help us stay in touch.  It was fun to actually see him while we were chatting last night, even when he was making silly faces at me.

Okay, back to homework so that I can finish this class sometime in the near future!

I hate dress shopping

So, I have a wedding to attend next weekend and I could use a new dress.  I spent 3 hours tonight trying on what felt like a hundred dresses...with NO luck.  I feel totally awful.  Everything was just so unflattering and really not cute.  I don't want to look fat (difficult) or like an old lady!  I am soooo upset right now.  Time for some sit-ups...

Busy bee!

Two great weekends in a row!

Last weekend I went to the Oktoberfest at Bear Mtn with my friends Linda and Heather.  We had great food and the weather was perfect.  It really felt like summer again and reminded me how much I appreciate that time off.  We saw some great crafts, including clocks made from recycled liquor and wine bottles.  Who doesn't want to be reminded that it's always happy hour somewhere?

Saturday was spent just spending time with the bf.  He was away the whole week before in class so we just relaxed and enjoyed the day.  We watched Revenge of the Nerds, which I'd never seen.  It was pretty funny.  We went for a walk into town for lunch and ate in the park which I love.  It was like a mini-date and we enjoyed just catching up and planning the next week. 

Yesterday was day 1 of my Educational Law and Policy class.  This is NOT going to be easy, but the other people in the class are great so that should help.  I have some good friends now that I've been in the program for a while so that's nice.  We all try to help each other out and keep each other awake when we hit the "tired time" at 3:30 in the afternoon.  Yesterday's was particularly bad because we were going through the syllabus...which just couldn't keep me interested enough.  8-4:30 is just a loooong day to be sitting in classes!

This morning I managed to get myself up and out for a run.  3 miles that were certainly not spectacular but I'm proud of doing them.  I just needed to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine.  I also tried to really get into today's music to keep my mind occupied.  Proud Mary from Glee is a GREAT running song!  I also realized I need to update my playlist and will welcome any suggestions!

Officer BF is off at work tonight, so I get the TV all to myself.  I'm tempted to check out the new show about sister wives on TLC.  I love Big Love and find the whole lifestyle fascinating...definitely NOT something I could ever imagine doing.  I do NOT share.  Haha!

Whirlwind Week

What a week!!  I'm sitting on the couch this morning trying to enjoy my one lazy morning before it's back to a full week of school.  I have work to do on that later but for now, it's coffee and Project Runway DVR time!

Labor Day was nice and relaxed...hahahah!  I ended up making dinner for 10 and having a great time.  We invited our friend Michele and her 3 younger kids over for dinner and it blossomed from there.  Her hubby is away for a 6 week training class so we wanted to do something nice for them before the start of the school year.  It was the oldest boy's birthday so I had some serious work to do.  I ended up making arroz con pollo, fried chicken cutlets (at the request of the b'day boy!) spicy black beans and a big green salad.  For desert, a 3 layer yellow cake with chocolate frosting.  I think it was good meal, and I love having place full of friends.

Tuesday and Wednesday was back to school.  It was exhausting and a feel a little like I'll NEVER learn all their names.  However, there were many bright moments.  I have some very cute students and one of them is the son of a girl I worked with my senior year of hs.  Candy was talking about starting her family then...and now her little boy is in my class.  It's wonderful how that happens sometimes.  She was a GREAT person to work with and I'm excited that her son is in my class and made a point to introduce himself.  I could talk school for hours so I'll stop here.

Thursday was an errand running day that ended with a drive up to Little Falls.  Tristan turned 1 on Friday and we had a great time celebrating his b'day.  We had a great lunch with the family and the party on Friday nigh was fun.  Watching all the kids play together is always fun, and seeing Officer BF with them is so great.  We left right after breakfast yesterday to be home for a bridal shower at 2pm....more fun, friends and great food.

Today I'm singing at a local street fair with the Hudson Voices (1pm in Nyack if you're around!) and then home to help the man pack up for his week.  He's heading out to a class for work tomorrow morning and will be gone until Friday evening.  I'm gonna miss him...but won't miss having to share the TV!  I think I have enough going on this week with lessons, a new yogilates class and trying to get back on the workout plan that the days will fly.  I'm trying to be back on track with Sparkpeople, too.  Happy Sunday Funday!

Getting ready...

So I spent time Tues in my classroom and then had 2 work days Wed and Thurs at school.  I walked out at the end of our day Thursday with another teacher and we were both saying that though we felt as though there were more to do we didn't know what it was.  That sums up how I'm still feeling!

I've set up some music for each of my 3 grade levels.  I'm working on seating charts this weekend, though I know they'll change throughout the first week or two.  I'm trying to focus in on what the "other" stuff is that I have to teach in each grade level during the first quarter.  What are the music reading skills I'm supposed to teach?  How much sight reading is realistic to expect?  How can I tell (in a class of 50!) which kids are giving 100% and who needs to have the "more effort needed" comment on their weekly feedback slips?  This is the part of my job that I'm finding stressful this year. 

Considering this is my 10th year of teaching it's odd to be this much anxiety about the new year.  I know it's because I'm teaching new grade levels in chorus and a general music class I haven't taught before...but seriously?  When I am going to start sleeping through the night the week before school??  I'm like a kid on Christmas Eve but instead of just being excited I'm worried I'll forget something important....gggrrrrrr!!!! 

New Adventures!

So, today I learned some basic rappelling and rock climbing stuff!!!  It was a great morning out with Officer BF and our friend Jim.  We were up on the mountain near TZ Rock (for all my locals!) and I got to learn about knots, carabiners, harnesses and who knows what else.  I did two descents and managed to get myself back up the slope both times.  It was a great time but I want gloves next time!  My hands are sore and tired...I used lots of muscles that haven't been used like that before.

Friday night was girls night with Heather and Linda.  Wine, cheese, crackers, fruit and Wii..it was so much fun.  I'm so lucky to have great friends at work.  They were a long time coming but totally worth the wait.  Question of the night: what is Mr. Potato Head's first name??  We think it's Matt...

Saturday morning Officer BF and I took the motorcycle up to the Renaissance Faire for his sister's birthday.  We had a great time with her and the kids and I tried mead for the first time.  Yummy!!  I was not aware that the first glass was such a big deal and there's an embarrassing video floating around somewhere of it...but it was fun.  Hands free drinking is NOT my strength!  The people watching at the Faire is half the fun and the Birds of Prey exhibit/show was a big hit.  The kids are so much fun to do stuff with...Danielle has GREAT kids!

It's back to school Wednesday for teacher meetings.  We have assigned seats at our staff meeting...I'm still not sure how I feel about that.  What do you think?